Petunia plant named ‘Balcushware’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Balcushware’, characterized by its medium pinkish-red colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcushware’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant botanically known as Petunia x hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Balcushware’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during July 2013. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Petunia cultivars with single-type flowers,unique flower coloration and patterns, and vigorous, mounded-spreadinggrowth habit.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia x hybridbreeding selection coded GS-9615-3, not patented, characterized by itsmedium red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous,mounded-spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the newcultivar is the proprietary Petunia x hybrid breeding selection codedGS-9403-8, not patented, characterized by its dark pink-colored flowers,medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growthhabit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring May 2014 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMay 2014 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcushware’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Medium pinkish-red colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having more pink in the flower color and darkergreen-colored leaves. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants ofthe male parent primarily in having more red in the flower color anddarker green-colored leaves.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is SUPERTUNIA VISTA Fuchsia‘BHTUN65301’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,457. However, in side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘BHTUN65301’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is less        purple-colored than plants of ‘BHTUN65301’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have flowers with larger diameter        corollas than plants of ‘BHTUN65301’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balcushware’. The plants were approximately 4 months old and grown in6-inch pots for approximately 12 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago,Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balcushware’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balcushware’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in March 2019 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately4-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown ina glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in6-inch pots for approximately 12 weeks utilizing a soilless growthmedium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhousetemperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F. to 72° F. (19° C.to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to20° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia x hybrida ‘Balcushware’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Petunia x hybrid breeding            selection coded GS-9615-3, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Petunia x hybrid breeding selection            coded GS-9403-8, not patented-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in an 11 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            mounded-spreading.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 18.0 cm. Width: Approximately 62.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 3.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 30.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 1.8 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent            with a mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color:            Colorless. Color of young and mature stems: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 20. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.            Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:            Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded. Venation pattern:            Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 5.5 cm. Width            of mature leaf: Approximately 4.5 cm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless. Color of upper surface of young and mature            foliage: 137A with venation of 147C to indistinguishable.            Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest            to 138A with venation of 147C to indistinguishable.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 0.3 mm. Width: Approximately            3.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture            of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:            147C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcushware’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            10 to 12 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 23. Fragrance: Slight.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 12.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 3.8 cm. Diameter at apex: Approximately            8.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture:            Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color            of petal portion: N77B with venation of 146C. Color of tube:            Closest to 182C with venation of 146C.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 6.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire, moderately wavy. Apex:            Broadly cuspidate, occasionally with three tips. Length from            tube: Approximately 2.7 cm. Length of free portion:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture            of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:            Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color            of upper surface when first open: 52A to 52B with midveins            of 53A. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:            Closest to 186D with venation of 146C. Color of upper            surface when fully open: 50A with 54B to 54C, midveins of            N186C.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland            color: Colorless. Color of inner surface: 186C with venation            of N186C. Color of outer surface: Closest to 182D with            venation of 146D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:            Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately            2.5 cm. Width: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower            surface: 138A with 144A at base.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 2.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture            of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:            144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,            basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Filament            length of fixed portion: Approximately 1.2 cm. Filament            color: NN155D with a heavy overlay of 146D at the center and            a very faint tint of 86A at anther attachment. Anther shape:            Bilobed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color:            NN155C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: NN155B.            Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:            Approximately 2.2 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 146A. Style length:            Approximately 1.8 cm. Style color: 145C. Ovary length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Petunia has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plantnamed ‘Balcushware’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.